What I like most about the Westside is...
its variety, with great restaurants, art galleries and shops and sense of history. It is stable, without a great deal of growth, so there is a greater sense of community. Iíve lived on the Westside since 1973.

If I could change anything about the Westside, it would be...
the panhandling. It has gotten worse. Itís a resolvable problem, if people put their heads together and do something. On a more positive note, it would be an improvement to have a good movie theater on the Westside.

A good movie Iíve seen recently is...
ďBeasts of the Southern Wild.Ē To star a determined 5-6- year-old girl, who carries this indie movie, is nothing short of amazing. The courage of the director and others who saw this project come to fruition is inspiring. Itís so much better than the comic-book movies that Hollywood puts out for adolescents of all ages.

I'd like to discover...
How EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) really works. EMDR is a form of psychotherapy that is highly effective with persons who are psychologically traumatized or emotionally stuck. It seems to work differently than other forms of therapy, in that it reduces the personís emotions first, and quickly. Brain imaging before and after
treatment confirms its effectiveness, but we do not yet know the mechanisms.

If I could meet someone famous, Iíd like to meet...
Nelson Mandela. He had to endure much that could have changed him in negative ways, but he survived and remained true to a higher set of principles.

The next time I travel, Iím going...
London, France and Rome with my wife, Dr. Sandra Wilson (we really are going in November, associated with speaking engagements).

My favorite childhood memory is...
growing up in a small town; having friends in kindergarten and staying friends through high school. There are eight of us guys who still get together on an annual basis with our wives, and we have a great time. We get to see each other and how we have changed throughout our lifetimes.

My favorite fall pastime is...
staying in rustic cabins in the mountains with my wife, kids and grandkids and cycling to see the fall colors.

Something good Iíve read is...
ďThe Brain That Changes Itself,Ē by Norman Doidge, which is about the brainís capacity to overcome insult and injury. One example is how people who lose their sense of balance from their inner ear can learn to regain their sense of balance through their tongue. Blind people can also be trained to ďseeĒ through their tongue.

My pet peeve is...
the long traffic lights in the metropolitan area. They are so lengthy, that they encourage drivers to run them rather than wait. If they were shortened, traffic could still flow easily and drivers would be less frustrated by the long wait.

If I didnít have to work for a year, I would...
write a book (or finish the one Iím working on). Spend more time with kids and grandkids.

Meet a WestsiderĒ is a regular feature in the Westside Pioneer. If you would like to be a Meet-a-Westsider (or know someone who should be),
please give us a call at 471-6776.